Fire kills 5 in South Korea after blast at defence giant Hanwha Aerospace’s factory

Five people have died and two others were injured in a fire at a factory operated by South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace in the city of Daejeon, authorities said on Monday.

The two survivors, including one who was badly burned, had escaped from the facility themselves, a fire official told a briefing.

“Authorities have yet to identify the victims ‌because their bodies were severely damaged,” a health official told the same briefing.

A fire official said that an explosion had triggered the blaze, though the cause of the blast was still being investigated.

Hanwha is a defence and aerospace company. Its factory in Daejeon produces large propulsion engines and handles rocket propellants.

Yonhap News Agency earlier reported that fire authorities received about 30 emergency calls at around 10.59am local time reporting a loud explosion and thick smoke at the facility.